Abdominal support for medical and surgical use.



S. A. WALTON.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL AND SURGICAL use.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 19, I917.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917 SAMUEL ARCHIBALD WALTON, OF WEST HAMPSTEAD,LONDON, ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. til, 191?.

Application filed June 19, 1917. Serial No. 175,630.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL ARoI-HBALD VALTON, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, and residing at 8 Sherriff road, WestHampstead, London, N. WV. 6, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Abdominal Supports for Medical and Surgical Use,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is embodied in the construction, arrangement andcombination of parts hereinafter described and specifically indicated inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 shows the support in frontelevation, the straps being shown spread out for convenience ofillustration.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively elevation. and section of a part of thecontact plate and steel outer strip to an enlarged scale.

A flexible contact plate a of the usual character, either of metal orother material, suitably shapedand covered, is employed, and I mounttransversely on its outer side resilient means in the form of curved orwavy steel springs 7), the projections on one side of which contact withthe plate, and on: the other side are adapted to contact with a steelouter front strip or plate 0, which is preferably flexible, and coversthe springs.

To its ends buckles (Z are attached, which in turn receive the ends ofan encircling body strip 0, e. The part c of this is made wide toprevent it slipping down. An embracing tension member as above indicatedis thus formed. The outward projections of the springs are arranged toslide on the outer strip or plate, and the inward projections of thesprings are similarly arranged to slide on the contact plate. By simplytightening up the band or belt, the pressure on the plate is applied inthe desired directionsthrough the springs, and adjusted to any desiredamount. Clips f may be used to keep the springs in position, and may beadjusted along the plate a. The support is conveniently fastened to theouter strip or plate by means of a clamping screw at g. The head of thisscrew is disposed on the inside of the metal plate a, and its neckadjustable-in a vertical slot k therein. By

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner this means the plate spring 6 and the outer strip 0can. be raised or lowered to bring the pressure to bear at a higher orlower point on the plate a. To reinforce and strengthen the plate a atthis point I attach preferably by rivets a smaller additional plate a asshown by the broken lines, Fig. 3, and in section in Fig. at in fulllines. The plate a is slotted to receive the neck of the clamping screw9, the plate ct being re cessed to form a pocket for the head of theclamping screw. in some cases the neck of the screw 9 may be square, andthe holes in the plate 0 and the center part of the springs 7), b alsosquare, so that the relative positions of the springs and plate a may bemaintained, or as illustrated, some movement of pivoting at 9 may bepermitted, the amount being limited by the pins 2'. l find this devicegives a very well distributed support, and is very readily adjusted, sothat great comfort is readily attained.

Instead of using one clamping screw, two may be used in the slot, and.thus the pins i may be omitted.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The improved abdominal support comprisinga broad plate for contact with the body of the wearer of the device. anelastic front plate secured to the front and middle portions of suchcontact plate, a back strip. and means adjustably connecting the ends ofthe same with the contact plate, and curved plate springs secured to thefront plate and their free outer ends projecting laterally andinterposed between the contact plates and front plate, as described.

2. In an abdominal support of the type indicated, the combination of abody contact plate having a vertical slot, a front spring plateextending across the contact plate. a clamp screw securing such frontplate to the contact plate, curved springs ext-end between the twoplates, and clips adjust-ably connecting the springs and front plate forvarying the pressure on the contact plate, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof .l' have signed my name to this specification.

SAMUEL .ARCHIBALD WALTON.

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